To promote the intelligent and integrated development of dispute resolution services in the digital economy era, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (hereinafter referred to as “CIETAC”) has completely revamped and formally announced its bilingual Chinese-English official website (http://www.cietac.org/, hereinafter referred to as the “CIETAC Website”).

The new version of the CIETAC Website is built upon the core concepts of “Digital Connectivity, Centralized Integration, and Open Sharing.” It closely aligns with the core needs of arbitration users in the era of digital economic transformation. The website systematically establishes four major functional sections—“Digital Arbitration Court,” “Digital Office Space,” “Digital Event Hub,” and “Digital Library”—comprehensively advancing CIETAC’s digital institutional development toward a new model of integration and intelligence, and contributing a “Chinese Solution” for arbitration to the broader initiative of building a Digital China.

“Digital Arbitration Court”: An Integrated “Intelligent Arbitration Hub”

Integration with the CIETAC ODR  Platform Portal:

As a key gateway to the CIETAC ODR Platform, the new official website features convenient floating icons on the right side and top-right corner of every page. These allow parties, arbitrators, and case managers to access or download the CIETAC ODR Platform (http://www.cietacodr.org/), which was officially launched on June 25, 2025, with just one click—enabling them to fully experience the convenience and efficiency of the “Digital Arbitration Court.”

Direct Navigation to Frequently Used Arbitration Tools

Prominently positioned on the homepage, the website offers direct access to nine frequently used tools, including: Notes on Application, Arbitration Rules, Model Clause, Online Filing, Fee Calculator, Arbitrator Search, Online Hearings, Refund & Withdrawal, and Invoicing — providing users with one-stop access to essential arbitration services.

Panoramic Presentation of CIETAC’s Dispute Resolution System

The “Rules & Guidelines” section brings together nearly 30 sets of rules and guidelines in various categories, languages, and versions, covering over 10 areas such as commercial arbitration, commercial mediation, investment arbitration, investment dispute mediation, construction dispute review, financial dispute arbitration, and evidence guidelines, from CIETAC’s inception in 1956 to the present.

The “Commercial Arbitration” section provides a comprehensive knowledge map of the entire arbitration process, including use of model arbitration clauses, filing a case, submitting a statement of defense and counterclaim, tribunal formation, rendering of awards, and enforcement. It also offers clear explanations of frequently asked questions during the arbitration process.

The “ADR-Service” section offers a complete overview of services such as domain name dispute resolution, commercial mediation, investment arbitration, investment dispute mediation, and construction dispute review, and includes links to the Domain Name Dispute Resolution platform and the APEC Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform.

“Digital Office Space”: A “Cloud-Based Management Console” for Cross-Time-Zone Collaboration

Building on Over Three Decades of Digital Institutional Management

Since pioneering the construction of an internal network office system among domestic arbitration institutions in 1993, CIETAC has now achieved a generational leap from “digitization” to “intelligentization” through the unified deployment of a full-chain online office platform across “two terminals (PC and mobile) and one internal network system.” This transition has largely enabled paperless and energy-efficient operations, advancing institutional management toward greater standardization, refinement, and intelligence.

Driving a Green Arbitration Ecosystem with Digital Momentum

The homepage of the new CIETAC website integrates access to CIETAC’s comprehensive office system, allowing arbitration users to launch cloud-based workflows via computer or mobile phone. Key operational procedures such as publishing, searching, and registering for arbitration-related activities are now conducted entirely online and paperless, forming a closed-loop digital process. Every click on the website contributes positively to the development of a green arbitration ecosystem.

The Website Itself as CIETAC’s Multidimensional Digital Business Card

The homepage’s dynamic window captures CIETAC’s highlights and milestones, conveying a vivid “first impression.” The site map organizes sub-sections around CIETAC’s core functions, including dispute resolution services, building of the arbitrator team, news and activities, training of foreign-related legal professionals, and theoretical research. The “About Us” section provides an introduction to CIETAC, annual reports, statistical data, and records of major events, forming a holographic window into the institution.

“Digital Event Hub”: A Never-Ending “International Arbitration Salon”

Creating a Cloud-Based Arbitration Ecosystem That Breaks Spatial and Temporal Barriers

Through its homepage event calendar and upcoming events module, the CIETAC website enables domestic and international arbitration users to access, with a single click, major and recent CIETAC events such as the “China Arbitration Week,” “China Arbitration Summit,” “CIETAC Global Arbitrators Forum,” “Belt and Road Arbitration Institutions Forum,” “China–Latin America International Arbitration Forum,” “China–MENA Arbitration Summit,” “China–Central Asia Arbitration Forum,” “China–Africa International Arbitration Cooperation Conference,” “RCEP and ASEAN International Arbitration Summit,” and the “SCO Arbitration Forum.” Regardless of location, users can participate in discussions and exchanges via online meeting links, overcoming geographical boundaries and bringing together global arbitration expertise.

Gaining Insight into CIETAC’s Development Trajectory

The “News Center” section provides real-time updates on CIETAC’s latest developments and event highlights. It also compiles news coverage of major events since 2000, related media reports, and over one hundred issues of CIETAC Newsletter published since 2017—serving as a valuable historical archive documenting CIETAC’s progress in internationalization and its leadership in the arbitration field.

Retrospective of CIETAC’s Signature Events

The “Key Events” section provides a comprehensive collection and display of materials from 12 editions of China Arbitration Week, 10 editions of China Arbitration Summit, 2 CIETAC Global Arbitrators Forums, 19 Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Arbitration Symposiums, 7 China International Investment Arbitration Forums, 4 Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Forums, as well as CIETAC’s reports from its participation as an observer in sessions of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

“Digital Library”: An Open and Shared “Arbitration Knowledge Engine”

Comprehensive Collection of Textual Materials, Sharing Arbitration Wisdom:

The new official website is dedicated to building a high-quality digital resource platform for all sectors of society, forming a three-tier professional empowerment system.

The first tier features selected representative cases from CIETAC, covering arbitration cases on equity transfers, financial disputes, cases involving Belt and Road countries, selected arbitral awards in English, and cases of overseas recognition and enforcement of CIETAC arbitral awards—extracting key rulings and practical experience in depth.

The second tier presents an industry trend map, compiling cutting-edge think tank results from the past ten years such as the Chinese and English versions of The Annual Report on International Commercial Arbitration in China, Annual Report on International Arbitration of Intellectual Property Rights in China, and The Application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods in Chinese Arbitration. It also links to official websites of frequently used institutions in the arbitration and legal communities, capturing the pulse of arbitration industry developments in real time.

The third tier is a legal update window for arbitration, integrating country-specific studies of arbitration systems in 48 Belt and Road countries, international arbitration conventions, and major Chinese laws and regulations on arbitration.

Fertile Ground for Talent Development:

The “Talent Development” section integrates resources from past events such as the CIETAC Cup, the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court – CIETAC China (Mainland) National Round, China Youth Arbitration Forum and the “Zhong Lun Cup” International Commercial Arbitration Essay Competition, overviews of the CIETAC International Arbitration Institute’s course series, as well as materials related to foreign-related legal talent training—offering systematic and comprehensive learning resources for all types of learners.

“Digital Security Firewall”: Upgraded Technical Safeguards

The new official website has passed the Level II Certification of the National Cybersecurity Classified Protection System. It adopts a new firewall, intrusion detection, anti-tampering technologies, and other technical means to establish multiple layers of security. While ensuring the convenience of electronic services, it also employs encrypted storage technology to guarantee the full-process security of files uploaded by parties. Strict access control over case materials is enforced, maintaining the confidentiality of arbitration proceedings at the technical level and achieving dual protection of secure file storage and sensitive data defense.

From handwritten arbitral awards in 1956 to today’s fully digitalized workflow, CIETAC has continuously developed a “Chinese Solution” for building a digital arbitration institution. We sincerely invite you to visit the new official website and the CIETAC ODR Platform, and to share your suggestions for improvement. CIETAC remains committed to building a more mature and well-rounded, coordinated, agile and efficient, intelligent and precise, open and transparent world-class digital arbitration institution—using the wings of digital innovation to carry users from China and abroad into a new era of international arbitration.